Fastening device



June 30, 1953 R. E. SCOTT 2,643,433

FASTENING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1950' 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z INVENTOR.

. aieri caff- J=i June 30, 1953 R. E. SCOTT 2,643,433

FASTENING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. Fake/ZE 56022 BY $.15. vZMe.

Patented June 30, 1953 FASTENING DEVICE RobertE. Scott SouthfieldTownship, Oakland County, Mich), assignor to George. E.- Gagnier,

Detroit, Mich.-v

Al l lication April '13; 1950'," Serial biog-155,666.

4 Claims. (Cl. 24.-213) This invention. concerns .afastening device:for.

the attaching of Weatherstripping, gasketing; molding, and the like andis. particularly; concerned with the fastening ofweather stripping and.decorativemetal on theexterior surface. of.

amotor vehicle while preventing leaks at the.

points where holes are provided in the vehicle body to receive the.fastener. The invention. is also concerned with a method of formingthefastener and with a. die assembly suitable. for

carrying out the method.

A type of fastener which has found widev usein automobile constructionis illustrated in Fig. 4 of. the accompanying drawings and comprisesgenerally a single piece of wire formed into a head portion and a. shankportion, the shank portion.

consisting, of. two legs positionedsubstantially normal. to the plane ofthe head portion and.

bowed outwardly with respect to each other be.

tween. thehead. and the. tip of the shank. The.

tips of the legs are usually in closeproximityto each other and commonlyoverlap.

In the attaching of metal trim to an autom-- bile body, for example, thehead portion engages thev trimand the legs are forced through a holeprovid'edinthe body.

In thisconnection, however, a. severe problem. hasbeen encounteredinthat. abad leak iscreated by thepresence of the. holewhereby water canreach interior. appointments as. well as interior metal. surfaces whichhave. not been protected against external corrosive. influence.Attempts. have been madeto. stop such leaks by the useof.

tioned by hand andmass production techniques.

result in an appreciable number of such gaskets being omitted. Some ofthis difficulty stems from carelessness of labor andsome from a tearing.of the gasket as'it slipped over the. bowed: portion of the fastener.legs.. Whatever the reason, however, many fasteners'areiused without thegasket provided therefor.

Itis therefore. an. object of thisinvention to provide a fastener ofthetypedescribed. which has.

the inherent characteristic of preventing leaks. at points where it isinstalled;

It is a further object to providea fastener which 1 includes anintegrally boundplastic body; preferably a thermoplastic .body,preferably resilient isgcarried'out.

in nature and: preferably soft rubber; at the junction of.the" head andshank. portions. It is also-an .object of theinvention to; provide amethod'for forming such a fastener to insure that all metal surfaces atthejunction of theleg and: head portions are sealed, against leakagealong their surfaces:

It-is" a=v still further object to provide a die assembly-suitable forthe carrying out of the-method of the invention in a manner-adapted foreconomical. production of thefasteners of the invention.

I have found that theforegoing and related objects. can be secured. inafastening device comprising a plastic mass and wire embedded insaidmass. to. form a head portion: for said device and spaced wiresextendingoutwardly from said mass to-form a shank portion 'for saiddevice, the-spaced wires of the shankrbeing bowed.outwardly with.

respect to'eachother between the. head portion and. the tip oi the.shank and being yieldably moveablewithrespect to each other.

In the use of aethermoplastic body, the method of" forming thefastening; device of the invention comprises positioningthethermoplastic material in contactwith.thefastener; applying apressure to the thermoplastic, the pressurehaving a principal vector.towardjthejunctionof. the head and shank; and heating-the,thermoplasticsufiiciently to causeit tofiow into thespace surrounding said junction.

The. die. assembly for manufacturing the. fastener of the invention,wherein the fastener comprises ahead and ashank, comprises a backing,member for the fastener; means for heating the assembly; anda forming.die adapted to press the thermoplastic materialfagainst thehead andcomprising a. plurality of substantially uniformlyspacedidimples..iOinedjbyflat web portions and being provided with ahole at thecente-r of each ofjsaid dimples. to receive the shank whenthe forming die is pressedagainst the head. When a thermoset resin isused in theinvention, the dimples'providea mold space inwhichthecondensing agentsareih'eld while the plastic forming reaction Other'andmore; detailed objects ofthe invention willbecome apparent from aconsideration of the following specification, the appended claims andthe accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of. which likereference. characters indicate like parts-and wherein:

Figure-l illustrates an embodiment of the fastening device of theinvention;

Figure2 is=a cross-sectional'view of Figure 1 taken through line. 2--2;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 taken through the line3-3;

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the wire portion of the fastenerof the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates a manner of using the fastener of the invention inthe attaching of a decorative molding to an automobile body;

Figure 6 illustrates a die assembly suitable for use in the manufactureof the fastener;

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of the wire portion of the fastenerin a form which can be conveniently stamped from sheet metal;

Figure 8 illustrates an integrally formed wire and thermoplasticfastener wherein the wire portion is similar to the structure of Figure7;

Figure 9 illustrates a wire fastener similar to the fastener of Figure 4with a modified head portion;

Figure 10 illustrates an integrally formed wire and thermoplasticfastener wherein the wire portion is similar to the fastener of Figure9;

Figure 11 illustrates a form of wire fastener which can be convenientlystamped from sheet metal;

Figure 12 illustrates an integrally formed wire and thermoplasticfastener wherein the wire portion is similar to the fastener of Figure11;

Figure 13 illustrates a wire fastener similar to that shown in Figure 11except that a modified head portion is shown;

Figure 14 illustrates an integrally formed wire and thermoplasticfastener wherein the wire portion is similar to that of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 illustrates a die assembly suitable for use in themanufacturing of fasteners similar to those shown in Figure 10 andFigure 14 in which the modified head portion is used.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the wire portion of thefastener of the invention consists generally of a wire head portion l0and leg portions l l which are preferably formed from a single piece ofwire as illustrated in Figure 4. A thermoplastic body which consists ofa sheet portion i2, and a dome portion [3 is integrally formed in thefastener in a manner such that the dome portion completely encloses aportion of each of the legs; that is; this portion of the legs isactually embedded in the thermoplastic body. The sheet portion I2 ispositioned substantially in the plane of the wire portion [0 in a mannersuch that the wire forms an intimately contacting border for the sheet.A tuft M of the thermoplastic material is normally de- V posited at theapex of the dome [3 in the forming operation.

With specific reference to Figure 5, the head portion, comprising thesheet [2 and its wire border In, is in engagement with a decorativemetal piece 15 while the wire shank, that is, legs H, is insertedthrough an opening H5 in a portion of an automobile body 11. The openingI6 has a diameter somewhat smaller than the widest point between thebowed legs such that the legs, when being inserted, are forced togetheras the fastener is inserted and subsequently spring apart and pressagainst the sides of opening Hi. In this manner portions of thethermoplastic body are brought to bear against the metal surfaces of theautomobile body surrounding the opening l6.

Figure 6 illustrates an apparatus suitable for forming the fastener ofthe invention. An upper die plate i8 is provided with openings [9adapted to receive heating elements (not shown). The upper die plate 18is alsoprovided .with recesses 20 and the holes 2| extending inwardlyfrom the recesses. A lower die plate or backing plate 22 is providedwith openings 23 adapted to receive heating elements (not shown). Arubber mat 24 or the like is shown positioned on the top surface of thebacking plate. A forming die 25 consists of a plate having flat webportions 26 and dimples 21. Each of the dimples is shaped to conformwith the shape of the recesses 20 in the upper die plate l8. Each dimpleis also provided'with an opening 28 which is adapted to lieconcentrically to the corresponding hole 2| in the upper die plate.

Figures '7, 9, 11, and 13 illustrate the various types of wire fastenerswhich may be used in the present invention. 'In this connection the wordwire is used broadly to include members other than those with circularcross sections. The particular shape of the cross section of suchelements is not critical to the invention, and the word wire" as usedherein is intended to cover threads, filaments, and the like.

With particular reference to Figures 9, 10, 13, and 14 a modified headportion is shown which comprises a member 29 lying substantiallyparallel to and spaced from the head portion l0. These additionalappendages to the head portion have been found useful as hooks for thefastening of additional elements. The presence or absence of suchappendages is not critical to the invention. Rather, my invention isdirected particularly to the generally L-shaped portion at the junctionof the head and shank.

Figure 15 illustrates a die assembly adapted to make fasteners of thetype shown in Figures 10 and 14. The assembly is similar to that shownin Figure 6 except that an additional backing plate 30 is positionedbelow the head portion [0. As shown, it is most practical to use asingle backing plate to serve two oppositely disposed rows of fasteners.

In the operation of the die assembly of Figure 6 the forming die 25carries the wire portion of the fastener to the apparatus in the mannershown; that is, with the head ID of the wire portion in engagement withthe flat portions 25 of the forming die and the legs ll of the Wireportion extending through the opening 28 in the dimple 21. The formingdie, equipped with wire portions, is placed over the rubber mat 24 orother suitable thermoplastic material which is positioned on the lowerdie. The upper die is then brought down in a manner such that the legsof the fastener wire enter the holes 2| in the upper die plate. When thesurface of the recesses 20 in the upper die plate contact the uppersurface of the dimples, the forming die 25 moves downwardly and forcesthe head portion l0 of the wire through the thermoplastic material 24which may be softened sufficiently to fiow by the heating of the dieplates. The thickness of the rubber mat 24 is usually somewhat greaterthan the thickness of the wire of the fastener. In this manner the wireportion It) cuts its way through the plastic and a portion of the latteris displaced upwardly into the dimple to form the dome and to embed thelower portion of the legs. Excess material, as the tuft I4, ispermitted'to flow unrestricted through the opening in the dimple andalong the surfaces of the shank. At the completion of the operation andwhen the formed plastic is sufficiently cool so as to retain its shape,the individual fasteners may then' be removed from the resulting matrix.v

In the operation of. the die assembly of Figure therubber mat 24ispositioned above the fastener shanks. The upper 'die -plate= 'l-8 is'moved g downwardly which in turn causes the forming die 25 to movedownwardly against the rubber mat. Shank porti'ons' I l pierce therubber mat and passthrough the hole:28 into the recesses -2 I As theupper die plate -and forming die -con tinue downwardly the rubber matispressed against the headportion Ill andl the backing plate it. Thiscausesthe heated rubber to be directed toward the junction of theheadand shank portions and to take theshape of the dimpie 2?. Excessthermoplastic material is allowed to flow unrestricted through theopening 28 and along the surfaces of the shank.

The" head portion of the fastener may be flat or may be curved toadaptitself fto. the curvature of the materials being fastened. It willbe apparent that the thermoplastic body can be formed on a wire headportion which. is curved either concavely or convexly in thesame manneras described in connection with aflat headgpcirtion. Where curved wirehead portions are used'itlis necessary merely to effect a correspondingchange in the contour of the backing plate below the positions assumedby the wire. of! the fastener head; It is necessary that the. wireheadportion and the surface of the backing plate have substantially thesame curvaturein order-that, a clean cut may be made as the wire movesthrough the thermoplastic material to contact the backing plate.

In uses where it is desired to use a thermoset resin such as aphenol-formaldehyde resin and the like, the reaction mixture of thecondensing agents can be placed in the space between the underside of adimple and the top of the backing plate. In this instance, the fastenersare positioned on the backing plate and the forming die containing thedimples is positioned against the fastener heads and with the fastenershank extending upwardly through the holes in the dimples. The reactionmaterial for forming the thermoset resin can be introduced through saidholes and the entire assembly is permitted to stand until the resin hasset up sufficiently to maintain its shape.

Similarly, polymer emulsions and solutions can be inserted into thecavity beneath the dimples to leave a solid plastic residue onevaporation. In this manner foam rubber or other plastic material can bedeposited in intimate contact with the shank and head portions to form afastener of the desired type.

The number of spaced wires in either the shank or head is not criticalto the invention. It has become standard practice to form a shank fromtwo legs, but it will be apparent that three or more legs could be used.The head portion similarly can comprise any number of spaced wires orcan be solid. In this latter connection and as indicated previously, theWord wire is used herein to mean any metal strip, filament, thread, orthe like which may be formed into the type of fastener described.

In most uses the plastic body can be limited to a dome shaped portionsimilar to that shown in. the drawings. However, many fastener heads, e.g. Figure 4 and Figure 7, appear to be more satisfactory if a portion ofthe plastic body lies in the plane of the head and contacting all thewire portion of the head.

The exact shape of dimensions of either the sheet portion or domeportion of the plastic body is not critical to the invention. Rather, ineach trated by the legsof the fa'stener. Similarly, it

is preferred that' the sheetportion of-theplasticbody have sufii'cientarea to make-a suitable frictional contact with the material surface inengagement therewith and" to provide. someresistance to displacement ofthe plastic: body.

The: natureof the plasticmaterial is not critical to the invention.However, the principal utility of' the inventionis in creating a.watertight seal and therefore asoft rubber has been foundmost suitableinmostusess In other uses, however,- relativelyharder thermoplasticmaterials may befound more desirable. For example,

where: the =fastener maybe-subjected to stresses which acton the plasticbody,- it is preferred that plastics-presenting: a: relatively toughwear-resistant, yet somewhat resilient, surfaceb'e used. Theacopolymersof vinyl chloride are examples of such materials.

The articleofthe invention has found its-greatest .usein the securingofornamentalmetal strips tothe exteriorsurfaces of motor vehicles, buthasalso found-use in theattachment of weather stripping. gasketing;molding, particularly where a-water-tight seal is desired; In additiontothe more obvious advantages ofthe integrally formed metal andplasticstructure; the article of the invention. is. moreeconomical in itsapplication than the combination of wire fasteners and separate gasketpieces. The latter not only have to be formed in a separate operation,but must be fitted to the fasteners usually by hand. The article of theinvention also makes unnecessary the use of such materials as cementsand the like which are frequently used in order to produce a water seal.

I claim: l. A fastening device for removably attaching members together,comprising a snap fastener having a head shaped to provide an openborder frame engageable with one member and having a shank joined to andprojecting transversely from said head, said shank being positionedsubstantially centrally of the head for projection through an opening inanother member, a resilient body of thermoplastic material having a basesurrounded and confined in its entirety by the inner side of said borderframe and having the outer side of said base bonded to the inner side ofthe border frame, said border frame having exposed surfaces projectinglaterally outwardly beyond said base for direct engagement with said onemember to securely clamp the latter to the other member, said body ofthermoplastic material having a portion projecting from said base in thedirection of said shank for sealing engagement with the marginal edgesof the opening through which the shank is adapted to project, and saidportion completely enclosing and bonded to the portion of the shankjoined to said head. 2. The fastening device defined in claim 1 whereinthe base of said body of thermoplastic material lies substantially inthe plane of the border frame and wherein said projecting portion icentrally located with respect to the base. 3. A fastening devic forremovably attaching members together, comprising a snap fastener havinga wire head shaped to provide an open border frame lying in a commonplane and engageable with one member, the border frame havingtransversely extending terminal ends which coact to provide a shankpositioned substantially centrally of the border frame and adapted toproject through an opening in another member, a body of resilientmaterial having a base and a. portion projecting from the centralportion of the base in the direction of said shank, said base beingsurrounded and confined in its ntirety by the inner side of said borderframe and having the outer side of said base bonded to the inner side ofthe border frame, said border frame having surfaces projecting laterallybeyond said base for direct engagement with said one member to securelyclamp the latter to the other member, said projecting portion enclosingthe terminal ends of the frame at the juncture of the ends with theframe and bonded to said ends, and the part of the projecting portionenclosing the terminal ends of the frame being of a size to extendthrough the opening in the other member into sealing engagement with themarginal edges of the opening.

4. A fastening device for removably attachin members together,comprising a snap fastener having a head including spaced frame partslying in a common plane, said head being engageable with one member andhaving a shank joined to and projecting transversely from said head,said shank being positioned intermediate said frame parts for projectionthrough an opening in another member, a body of resilient materialhaving a base confined between the inner sides of said frame parts andhaving the outer sides of said base bonded to the inner sides of saidframe parts, said frame parts having surfaces projecting laterallybeyond said base for vdirect engagement with said one member to securelyclamp the latter to the other member, said body of resilient materialhaving a portion projecting from said base in the direction of saidshank for sealing engagement with the marginal edges of the openingthrough which the shank is adapted to project, and said portion beingpositioned intermediate said fram parts and completely enclosing andbonded to the portion of the shank joined to said head.

ROBERT E. SCOTT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,070,839 Place Feb. 16, 1937 2,084,023 Getz June 15, 19372,109,402 Place Feb. 22, 1938 2,163,455 Van Uum June 20, 1939 2,215,428Place Sept. 17, 1940 2,266,432 Morin et a1 1 Dec. 16, 1941 2,304,036Tegarty Dec. 1, 1942 2,317,110 Person Apr. 20, 1943 2,362,672 Sloan'Nov. 14, 1944 2,394,941 Smith Feb. 12, 1946 2,415,504 MacDonald Feb. 11,1947 2,455,669 Gagnier Dec. 7, 1948

